Archangel Raphael is best known for his healing help, which can be experienced physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually. His name means “He who heals” or “God heals” and he will work with anyone who calls upon him. To connect with Archangel Raphael, we must ask for his help, as Archangels and angels respect our free will and will not become involved unless we request this. It is to our advantage to trust in Archangel Raphael’s wise advice. His keen understanding will benefit us in many ways. This assistance often comes through intuitive guidance from him to us. It is also through Doreen Virtue’s help and my own intuition that I received Archangel Raphael’s guidance in reading the angel cards from his deck for this month of February. As I shuffled the cards, I repeated, “Please help us to know what is important to understand in February.” I was directed afterward to lay down six cards from the top of the deck as follows:
1. Laughter is the best medicine: Detach and find the humor and irony within every human drama. Doreen tells us, “Archangel Raphael reminds you that worry and stress never help any situation, but laughter and prayer do have curative effects. He’s here to help you see the humor within the human drama so that you can detach and lighten your heart. Raphael realizes that it may be difficult for you to smile right now, but there’s always big release felt after a good laugh. So- with your permission- he’ll help you smile and laugh more often.”
Energetically, I believe when we experience the lighter emotions such as happiness, contentment, love, joy, and peace, we raise our own vibration in the world. This in turn influences those around us who feed off our energy. We have choices in all we think, say, and do, so when we find ourselves experiencing lower energies, we can choose to continue along that path, or use the gift of laughter to change it. Weigh the options: will we choose feeling upset and angry, or will we choose laughter and enjoyment? Raphael guides us to the laughter, but the choice is entirely our own.
2. Yes! Trust your feelings as the accurate barometer of truth. Doreen says, “Archangel Raphael wishes to validate your intuitive feelings. This card is a talisman to help you deal with current situations and prepare for the future. Sometimes the greatest gift you can receive is knowing what to expect next. Raphael reminds you that everything can change in even more positive directions, so stay open to your intuitive wisdom, which will guide you along the way.”
If we have an opportunity to be guided by our mind, or our intuition, choose intuition regardless of the comfort with it. So many times we feel an urge to move in a particular direction, make a decision, or take a chance. When it feels uncomfortable, it’s because change is involved, something many of us do not like. But with change comes growth and a better understanding of who we are. Usually, it turns out in the long run to be exactly what we needed. Trusting in our inner knowing, our higher self, is trusting in God, or the Higher Power to guide us for our greatest good.
3. Caffeine Free: Cut the attachment to caffeine so that you may honor your body’s natural energy rhythms without chemicals. Doreen states, “You drew this card because the caffeine from coffee, tea, cola, or chocolate is exacerbating the health condition you inquired about. Perhaps your consumption of this substance is increasing your anxiety level, which is creating stress-induced body toxins. Anxiety can also block you from feeling safe, happy, and connected. If you are addicted to caffeine, Archangel Raphael can certainly help reduce or eliminate cravings. Use the following prayer: Dear Archangel Raphael, I ask that you cut my cords of attachment to caffein so that I may honor my body’s natural energy rhythms without chemicals.”
Our body is an incredible machine, able to heal itself when given the opportunity. Anxiety is felt on the mental, emotional, and physical levels. Change in how we care for our body through our diet and exercise can be helpful in establishing a firm foundation to deal with the other levels. Our body absorbs toxins from the air we breath, as well as from the food we eat, toxins which damage on a cellular level. Additionally, anxiety (stress) produces cortisol in the body which does the same. Archangel Raphael is telling us to make changes, like laugh more, and be guided by our intuition. He is also saying to take care of ourselves on a basic level, like cutting out caffeine. Again, we have a choice: will we continue to poison our bodies, or will we start to purify ourselves for our greatest good?
4. Relationship: Archangel Raphael, thank you for healing and guiding all of my relationships upon the path of love. Doreen says, “This card speaks of another person’s influence upon the situation in question [whatever yours might be]. Archangel Raphael helps you with all forms of healing, including emotional healing within relationships. He sends you this card to indicate that he’s assisting you with relationship and health issues, especially when both are intertwined. Raphael can help you maintain clear and loving communication with other people, as well as resolve misunderstandings from the past. After all, the Healing Angel knows the health benefits of a heart that’s filled with love, peace, and compassion.”
Relationships between people work well when the vibration between them matches and is of high quality. This is true for love relationships, friendships, acquaintances, and work situations. Archangel Raphael is urging us to examine all our relationships and decide which ones are working the best. Take a look at them and understand why they are working. Then apply that knowledge to other relationships that are important, but may not be so smooth. He is offering his guidance if we ask, but he reminds us it is all about growth and change to find the path of love between two people. To love, or not to love. These are the choices in maintaining a great relationship, or a mediocre, or poor one. It’s all part of the purifying process.
5. Prayer works! Archangel Raphael, thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Doreen mentions, “Archangel Raphael sends this card to inspire you to increase your prayers surrounding your health question. This may mean putting requests into prayer groups, such as those associated with churches or temples. It also calls for you to pray more personally and to ask your spiritually minded loved ones to join you. Hundreds of well-documented and carefully designed studies have supported the healing power of prayer and have ruled out the placebo effect. There’s evidence that the more people who pray for a cause, the better the result… regardless of the type or denomination of the prayer. Raphael joins you in praying for the best possible outcome as well as peace for everyone involved. And remember: the answer to your prayer is usually better and different from what you expect.”
The importance of prayer should not be underestimated, whether it be for personal help, for others we know, for war-torn areas, or areas experiencing natural disasters. We find the assistance we need when we offer up prayers. In this time of great turmoil throughout the world, the more prayers for love, peace, and forgiveness that are sent out, the greater the chance of surviving. The more prayers offered for Mother Earth, the greater the chance of surviving. Expand your reach beyond yourself in whatever way you can, for the good of all.
6. Sobriety: Archangel Raphael, please adjust my cravings in healthful directions so that I only desire life-affirming foods and beverages. Doreen tells us, “This card appears because your health… improves as you adopt a sober lifestyle. Archangel Raphael can reduce or eliminate addictive cravings and help you adjust so that recovery is pleasant and harmonious. Raphael can also guide you to specific health-care professionals or support groups to heal the addictive cycle. A chemical-free lifestyle is beneficial, and will boost your energy, vitality, and self-esteem.”
Archangel Raphael is reinforcing the importance of addictive-free living. Although the pressures in the culture are great, it is up to each of us to find strength deep within our core to follow our own path. It is up to each of us to find our truth deep inside and how to live it. Addictive foods and beverages block our understanding of this knowledge. They keep our vibrations low, and slow our progress toward being the best we can be. When we make a choice to be free, Archangel Raphael will be there to help us.
This month, Archangel Raphael is speaking to us about very basic subjects: Trust your intuition; laugh a lot; stay away from toxins; keep your relationships strong; and have a strong prayer life. As we move into the new era, the Age of Aquarius, let the energies that flow help you to raise your vibrations, and when you have difficulty, call on Archangel Raphael to assist.
